County of Gaston issued the following announcement on Nov. 5.
Starting Wednesday, Gaston County Emergency Medical Services, in collaboration with Gaston County Public Health, will offer initial and booster shots for the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to homebound, mobility-impaired, and unhoused individuals.
For boosters, individuals can get a different brand of the vaccine than they initially received.
This is a service GEMS provided near the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution as well, ensuring that a lack of transportation would not be a barrier to anyone who wants to be vaccinated against the virus.
An individual wishing to receive their booster shot should have their vaccination card available. If you have lost your card, you may be able to retrieve your vaccination record by visiting: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines/after-youve-been-vaccinated/your-vaccine-information.
As with the Pfizer booster, which was implemented late last month, the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters are available for those who are:
- 65 or older
- 18 or older and:
- Live or work in a long-term care facility
- Have a medical condition that puts you at high risk for severe illness, for example: obesity, asthma, heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes
- Work in a high-risk profession, meaning you come in contact with a lot of people and don’t know their vaccination status; for example, health care workers, first responders, teachers, food processing workers, retail and restaurant workers, and public transportation workers.
- You live or work in a place where many people live together; for example, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, migrant farm housing, dormitories or other group living settings in colleges or universities.
According to the CDC, individuals should be at least six months removed from getting their last dose of the Moderna or the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine before getting a booster. Those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should be at least two months removed from their initial shot before obtaining a booster.
To arrange for an initial, second, or booster vaccination for homebound, mobility impaired, and unhoused individuals, call GEMS Community Outreach at (704) 862-6287
Original source can be found here.
